Madeline Levine
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Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Personal Health -> Children's Health -> Special Needs Children
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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 40
Average rating: 4.0 of 5
Money Doesn't Always Buy Happiness... 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
I'll jump right in and say it -- my husband and I may very well be at the lower end of the target demographic for this book. We both work full time, we live in a relatively affluent area of Northern California, own a home, have a Prius, and are currently contemplating whether to send our kids to public or private school. Nevertheless, I was pretty skeptical about a book that treats upper class kids as an "at risk" group, similar to kids who come from poverty-level backgrounds. Yes, the stories and anecdotes sprinkled throughout the book made me feel sad for these kids and families who seem so detached from themselves and each other. But how can you argue that these poor little rich boys and girls deserve just as much pity and focus as kids who literally have nothing but the shirt on their backs?
The truth is a bit more complicated. Like it or not, children who come from more affluent backgrounds are still more likely to rise to a prominent position in our society -- whether that be political, educational, or social -- than kids from a lower socioeconomic background. These are incredibly influential roles that play a huge part in determining the future of our country and our world. So we should be concerned when we hear about the rising number of affluent kids who leave the nest with zero sense of self or personal accountability, drug and alcohol problems, damaged moral compasses, and a general lack of compassion for his/her fellow humans. Whether you "feel sorry" for these children or not is beside the point...the problem is real and these kids can and frequently do grow into adults who have a lot of clout but little interest in leaving this planet a better place than when they arrived.
Levine's book clearly illustrates the challenges these kids face and the repercussions their damaged lifestyles have - not just on themselves but on families, friends, and an ever widening circle of individuals as the kids grow into adults. But lest you think this is one of those downer books that spends hundreds of pages telling you what's wrong without providing a solution, Levine also points out some potential steps parents and communities can take to provide affluent (and indeed ALL) kids with opportunities to become and stay well-rounded, contributing individuals.
Editorial Review:
In recent years, numerous studies have shown that bright, charming, seemingly confident and socially skilled teenagers from affluent, loving families are experiencing epidemic rates of depression, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders—rates higher than in any other socioeconomic group of American adolescents. Materialism, pressure to achieve, perfectionism, and disconnection are combining to create a perfect storm that is devastating children of privilege and their parents alike.
In this eye-opening, provocative, and essential book, clinical psychologist Madeline Levine explodes one child-rearing myth after another. With empathy and candor, she identifies toxic cultural influences and well-intentioned, but misguided, parenting practices that are detrimental to a child's healthy self-development. Her thoughtful, practical advice provides solutions that will enable parents to help their emotionally troubled "star" child cultivate an authentic sense of self.
